Breast prosthesis



July 2 1965 F. c. M KEE BREAST PROSTHESIS Filed Jan. 23, 1961 m m M Hare/Ice C. Mel 2e BY 64 a 4- M SPONGE RUBBER IMPERV/OUS LATX Aft orneys United States Patent 3,196,464 BREAST PROSTHESES Florence C. McKee, 588 Longmeadow St., Longmeadow, Mass. Filed Jan. 23, 1961, Ser. No. 84,023 Claims. (Cl. 3-36) The present invention relates to an improved breast prosthesis for use by women who have had a breast removed, and particularly for those who have undergone a radical mastectomy.

It is not surprising that a radical mastectomy can result in psychological problems which are oftentimes greater than the medical problems for a given case. After recovery from surgery, the patient desires to go about in as normal a manner as possible. Self-consciousness becomes quite extreme in many cases, particularly where the breast prosthesis which is worn, shifts or otherwise becomes noticeable. Embarrassment or the fear of embarrassment can result in a withdrawal from the normal way of life, and even in mental illness.

It is thus evident that there is a great need for a breast prosthesis which will give the wearer a real feeling of confidence and the ability to do practically anything and wear most any type of clothing without fear of detection and embarrassment. The object of the invention is to fulfill this need.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved breast prosthesis which gives greater physical com fort, as well as improved psychological assistance to the wearer.

An important feature of the invention is the provision of a sponge-rubber prosthesis having the shape of a human breast with a lead member imbedded therein adjacent the rear surface of the prosthesis facing the chest of the wearer. The prosthesis would normally be held in the cup of a brassiere worn by the patient. The lead member is shaped to the general configuration of the patients chest, thereby obtaining an individualized fit for the prosthesis. The fit so attained is of great importance in maintaining the prosthesis properly positioned. Further, the weight of the lead gives the prosthesis as a whole the weight of the missing breast so that there is a feeling of balance to the brassiere and actually a feeling of balance for the chest of the patient.

The above and other related objects and features of the invention will be apparent from a reading of the following description of the disclosure found in the accompanying drawing and the novelty thereof pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevation of a breast prosthesis embodying the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a section taken on line IIII in FIG. 1, but with the prosthesis inserted in the cup of a brassiere as it would be worn by a patient;

FIG. 3 is a section taken on line TIL-III in FIG. 1, and again shows the prosthesis as it would be worn; and

FIG. 4 is a section similar to FIG. 3, but on an enlarged scale.

The prosthesis seen in the drawings comprises, on its front side, a generally cone-shaped portion which simulates the form of a human breast. The rear surface 12 thereof is flat and free to conform to the shape of the chest of the patient, as may be observed in FIGS. 2 and 3, which show the prosthesis held in place by a brassiere. The brassiere comprises the usual breast cup 14, shoulder strap 16, and back strap 18. Cloth strips 20, 22 are secured to the brassiere to define the rear of a pocket holding the prosthesis in the brassiere cup 14.

As can be seen, the prosthesis has a side extension 24 3,196,464 Patented July 27, 1965 which follows at least part way under the arm of the patient to give stability to the prosthesis so that portion 12 will be retained in the cup 14 with greater assurance. It will also be seen that a bluntly pointed portion 26 is formed at the upper portion of the base of the cone portion 10. The portion 26 fills a cavity which is left by removal of muscle in a mastectomy and yet is unnoticeable since it remains within the outline of most brassiere cups.

The various portions (10, 12, 24 and 26) of the prosthesis are preferably integrally molded of soft sponge rubber. It is understood, of course, that other foamed materials are to be considered as equivalents as they are developed and accepted for wear on the person.

A malleable member preferably in the form of a lead plate 28 is imbedded within the prosthesis and lies generally parallel to the surface 12 and adjacent thereto. Advantageously the plate 28 is generally in the form of an inverted T. The vertical leg 30 of the plate 28 points toward the portion 26 and terminates adjacent thereto. A wedge-shaped portion 32 is formed on the leg 30 to the side away from the strap 18, that is, towards the sternum of the patient. The plate 28 could be formed of other malleable metals such as soft copper or Zinc or could even be formed of a non-metallic malleable member such as fiber board.

The prosthesis is shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 as it would be when worn by a patient. The prosthesis is removably held in the cup 14 of the brassiere by the strips 20, 22 with the extension 24 also being held against or retained on the strap 18. The cross bar of the plate 28 is bent to approximate the horizontal curvature of the patients chest (FIG. 2) while the leg 30 is bent to fit the vertical curvature of the patients chest (FIG. 3). In this way the prosthesis is custom fitted to the contour of the patients chest. With the prosthesis thus fitted, there is, for practical purposes, no movement of the prosthesis which would betray its use to even a careful observer. This is particularly so when the patient leans forward, in that the prosthesis does not tend to tip and fall against the outer garment. The wedge-shaped portion 32 of plate 28 is particularly helpful when molded to the shape of the patients chest in preventing the prosthesis from so falling against the patients outer garments.

The described prosthesis gives the patient a natural feel in that the plate 28 is chosen of a size and shape giving the prosthesis as a whole, the weight of a natural breast. It will be noted that in providing this needed weight, the center of gravity is maintained closely adjacent the chest of the patient and yet the pull on the strap 16 will be the same as the pull of the natural breast on the opposite brassiere strap.

It is further desired that the present prosthesis enable the wearer to enjoy most any form of recreation without fear of embarrassment. To this end the sponge rubber prosthesis is covered by an impervious layer 34 (FIG. 4)

of latex. It is, therefore, possible to wear this prosthesis when swimming without fear of it taking on water and sagging because of additional weight. The latex layer is also preferred for sanitary reasons, as it is easier to clean the prosthesis.

While the wearer of the prosthesis has herein been referred to as a patient," this is merely a convenient term of reference. It will be fully apparent that the present prosthesis is not limited to use immediately following surgery when a person would more technically be termed apatient.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as novel and desired to be secured by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A breast prosthesis formed of foam rubber having a body iortienwi/itli thelshape' of a human breast ,form v and a rear surface from *WhlCh the breast form projects, and comprising a generally fiat malleable member of substantial lateral extent imbedded in said prosthesis adjacent said rear surface'and generally parallel thereto,"

said malleable member being moldable to the shape of the Wearers chestfor an individu'alizedfittin g of the pros-i thesis. 7

, 4g 4. A prosthesis asin'claim 3' wherein-a wedge-shape extension is formed on the vertical leg ofthe'T-shaped plate, said extension being on the side the sternum'of the wearer. I

of said leg towards 5. Aprosthesis as in claim 2 wherein the spongerubber is covered by an imperviouslayerof latex.

'2; Abreastprosthesis formed of foam rubber having 1 a body portion with the shape of 'a human breast form and a generally fiat rear surface from which the breast form projects, and comprising a'rnalleable inetal' plate of substantial lateral extent imbedded in the prosthesis adjacent said rear surface and generally parallel thereto.

3. A prosthesis as in claim 2 wherein the metal plate is in the form of an inverted T disposed substantially centrally of the breast form, i j

Reltererices Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS DELBERT B, LOWE, Primary Examiner. ADELE M. EA ER Examiner; 

2. A BREAST PROSTHESIS FORMED OF FOAM RUBBER HAVING A BODY PORTION WITH THE SHAPE OF A HUMAN BREAST FROM AND A GENERALLY FLAT REAR SURFACE FROM WHICH THE BREAST FORM PROJECTS, AND COMPRISING A MALLEABLE METAL PLATE OF SUBSTANTIAL LATERAL EXTENT IMBEDDED IN THE PROSTHESIS ADJACENT SAID REAR SURFACE AND GENERALLY PARALLEL THERETO. 